This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Tom Bateman, GMM1
to remember
Bowen, Alva, CAPT.
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Contact Info
Home Town Atlanta
Last Address Annapolis, MD
Date of Passing Dec 14, 2011
Location of Interment U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery and Columbarium (VLM) - Annapolis, Maryland
Captain Alva "Al" Manly Bowen Jr., 86, USN (Ret.), died December 14 at Ginger Cove Health Center of Cancer. He was born February 24, 1925 in a small cottage in author Joel Chandler Harris's back yard in Atlanta, GA. He attended Newnan Georgia Public School, the U.S. Naval Academy, where he graduated in June 1945, the National War College, and GWU, where he graduated in 1970 with a M.S. in International Affairs.
His naval career covered 1945 through 1975 where he commanded minesweepers, destroyers, and a cruiser and was chief engineer of an aircraft carrier. There were five deployments of five months or more to the Mediterranean, four to West Pacific, three of these were during the Vietnam War. He was part of UNITAS Eleven, Politico-military circumnavigation of South America, while CO of the flagship, USS Harry E. Yarnell. He exercised Naval Base-use agreements with South American countries, and was a member of the office of the Secretary of the Navy Surface Missile Systems Project manager- Human Factors Engineer for Aegis, a Weapons System Development and Program Manager for weapons personnel in the Bureau of Naval Personnel, and part of the office of the Chief of Naval Operations-Director of Surface Warfare Programs and Plans. At the CNO level, Al oversaw mining of North Vietnam's harbors and subsequent minesweeping operations, and directed planning for the post Vietnam War makeover of our surface navy. Al also received the Bronze Star (V), Legion of Merit.
Al's civilian career included Specialist in International Politics and National Security with the Congressional Research Service of Library of Congress. As Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Division, he conducted policy research for Congressional offices and committees on the defense budget, arms control, Panama Canal Treaty, Philippine bases. He took part in negotiations and other foreign policy issues related to East Asia or Latin America.
Al was a member of NPC, U.S. Naval Institute, Lost Patrol, Navy Sailing Association(s), and the Military Order of the Carabou. He enjoyed offshore and local yacht racing and was the offshore sailing coach with the Naval Academy Sailing Squadron for 20 years. His hobbies included the Ham radio and writing.
Al was preceded in death by his wife Delavan Rawlins (Delly), whom he married in 1947 and who died in December 2006. He is survived by his son, Gerry Bowen; daughter, Julia Toney; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held 11 a.m., Tuesday, January 3 at the U.S. Naval Academy Chapel. Internment will follow in the columbarium. Arrangements by John M. Taylor Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made to www.johnmtaylorfuneralhome.com.
Memorial donations may be made to Ginger Cove Foundation or Hospice of the Chesapeake.
Laid down by Bethlehem Steel, San Pedro, CA. December 12, 1942
Launched June 12, 1943 and Commissioned October 30, 1943
Decommissioned July 15, 1946
Recommissioned April 27, 1951
Decommissioned November 7, 1969
Stricken March 1, 1975
Fate
Designated as a target 1976, sunk July 18, 1982
(somewhere off the coast of Southern California)
Vietnam Era
During her service in VN the 1.1" AA & 20mm AA were gone and replaced with two .50 BMG
mounted aft on the 03 level above what was then the Supply Office and the Lucky Bag.
Misc.
Porterfield's flag hoist/radio call sign was NKNO and her tactical voice radio call sign was PIVOT POINT
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR THE CREW OF THE 1966 CRUISE OFF THE COAST OF VIETNAM.
This is a copy of an email I received from the Veteran's Benefits
Administration's Compensation Service dated June 6/6/2013.
Mr. Browning,
Based on your deck log information, I have added the ship as follows:
USS Porterfield (DD-682 [Destroyer] while operating in close coastal waters on March 19, 1966, two officers and a seaman went ashore in a junk and, on April 8, 1966, a small boat went ashore from Da Nang Harbor with Vietnamese officers
This means that Porterfield was added to the list of ships that have a
presumption of herbicide exposure (Agent Orange). You can check
that list of ships on the VA website. We appeared on the July 2013
list. Sorry to have delayed making this entry.